This is History: History’s Greatest Fails

Summary

Why do we fixate on the victors when the stories of those who stumbled are often far more revealing? In History’s Greatest Fails, acclaimed historian Dan Jones and author Elizabeth Day team up to explore this exact question. Moving beyond simple tales of defeat, they examine how failure actually shapes our world, from the tactical blunders of medieval monarchs to the bizarre, unintended consequences of historical missteps. Across this miniseries, the hosts delve into the lives of figures ranging from iconic rulers like Richard III to historically overlooked individuals such as the Pharaoh Hatshepsut. They break down what failure meant in different eras and how the concept itself has evolved over time. The show masterfully connects deep-dive historical research with a modern lens, asking why we treat certain outcomes as catastrophes while others become the happy accidents that define future generations. Whether you are listening for the high-stakes political drama of the Wars of the Roses, the fascinating eccentricities of figures like William McGonagall, or the broader lessons on human resilience, this podcast offers a fresh perspective on the past. Dan and Elizabeth bring their unique expertise as authors and podcasters to create an atmosphere that feels like a conversation between old friends. By dissecting the moments where things went spectacularly wrong, History’s Greatest Fails reveals that true human history is found not just in the successes, but in the messy, human, and often tragic ways we fall.

Updated Jul 7, 2026